Buddleja plant named ‘BOTEX 003’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named, ‘Botex 003’, that is characterized by its compact and upright plant habit, its flowers that are white in color, its neat and naturally oblong plant shape, its very floriferous blooming habit, and its flowers that have a pleasant fragrance.

Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii.

Variety denomination: ‘Botex 003’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant VarietyOffice (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2020/3389 filed onDec. 23, 2020, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which isincorporated by reference herein. This application is also co-pendingwith a U.S. Plant Patent Application filed for a plant derived from thesame breeding program from similar parentage that is entitled BuddlejaPlant Named ‘Botex 004’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.17/557,039).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddlejadavidii will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Botex 003’.‘Botex 003’ is a new shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscapeplant.

The new cultivar of Buddleja is a selection from an ongoing breedingprogram conducted by the Inventor in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands withthe objective of creating new cultivars of Buddleja with very neat andcompact plant habits combined with unique flower colors and floriferousblooming habits.

The Inventor made a cross in summer of 2018 between an unnamedproprietary plant in the Inventor's breeding program; reference no.11013 as the female parent and reference no. 19011 as the male parent.The Inventor selected ‘Botex 003’ in summer of 2019 as a single uniqueplant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theInventor using stem cuttings in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands in Augustof 2019. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Botex 003’ as a unique cultivar of Buddleja.

-   1. ‘Botex 003’ exhibits a compact and upright plant habit.-   2. ‘Botex 003’ exhibits flowers that are white in color.-   3. ‘Botex 003’ exhibits a neat and naturally oblong plant shape.-   4. ‘Botex 003’ exhibits a very floriferous blooming habit.-   5. ‘Botex 003’ exhibits flowers that have a pleasant fragrance.

The female parent of ‘Botex 003’ differs from ‘Botex 003’ in having veryshort inflorescences with flowers that are purple in color and in havinga more compact plant habit. The male parent of ‘Botex 003’ differs from‘Botex 003’ in having inflorescences that are more narrow in width andmore rounded in shape and in having a more spreading plant habit. ‘Botex003’ can also be compared to Buddleja cultivars ‘White Profusion’ (notpatented) and ‘Botex 004’. ‘White Profusion’ differs from ‘Botex 003’ inhaving a taller plant height, a more vigorous growth habit, andinflorescences that are longer. ‘Botex 004’ differs from ‘Botex 003’ inhaving flowers that are Lilac blue in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Podoslonami, Groen Vandaag, Plantago, Greenport,Gabot, Bloemenkrant, Floricade, Plamntipp, Hortipoint, CG Concept,Stad+Groen, Floranews, Tuinzaken, Handel & Techniek, Van Son & Koot BV,KVBC, Perishablenews, Hortweek, Buddlejagarden, Boom-in-Business,Greenity, and Obst & Garden.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance anddistinct characteristics of the new Buddleja. The photographs were takenof a one-year-old plant as grown in a greenhouse in a 19-cm container inKaatsheuvel, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the overall plant habitof ‘Botex 003’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Botex 003’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of‘Botex 003’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the Detailed Botanical Description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Buddleja.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of one-year-old plants as grownin a greenhouse in 19-cm containers in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—July to October in The Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous perennial shrub.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright-rounded, dense.        -   Plant size.—An average of 37 cm in height and 39 cm in width            as a one-year-old plant in a container and reaches 80 cm in            height and 80 to 90 cm in spread as grown in the landscape.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 5.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility and resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Root development.—An average of 8 weeks to initiate roots            and eight weeks to fully root as a young plant in a P9            container.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.-   Branch description:    -   -   Branch shape.—Quadrangular.        -   Branch color.—Young stems; 145B, mature stems; 199A.        -   Branch strength.—Strong.        -   Branch size.—An average of 22 cm in length and 3 mm in            diameter.        -   Branch surface.—Pubescent.        -   Branch internode length.—Average of 2.7 cm.        -   Branching.—2 main branches, 11 secondary branches.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Narrowly elliptical to elliptical.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; upper surface 144A, lower            surface 191D, main vein 145B.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Both sides are smooth, matte, and pubescent.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 8 cm in length and 2.1 cm in width.        -   Leaf quantity.—8 to 10 per stem.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 137C, base 145C, young            lower surface; 191A, mature upper surface; 137A, mature            lower surface; 191D.        -   Petioles.—An average of 6 mm in length and 1.5 mm in            diameter, medium to high strength, both surfaces 145B in            color, both surfaces smooth, glabrous, and slightly            pubescent.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Compound terminal and axial panicles.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 11.5 cm in height, 6.5 cm            in width.        -   Flower fragrance.—Sweet, pleasant and light strength.        -   Lastingness of flowers.—An average of 5 days, persistent,            inflorescence is semi-indeterminate.        -   Flower buds.—Oblong, average of 1 cm in length and 1.5 mm in            diameter, N155C in color.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright.        -   Flower quantity.—An average of 150 flowers per            inflorescence.        -   Flower type.—Single, salverform.        -   Flower surface.—All surfaces glabrous and smooth.        -   Flower size.—An average of 1 cm in height, 6 mm in diameter,            flower throat; 3 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter, flower            tube; 3 mm in length, 1 mm in diameter.        -   Peduncles.—An average of 2.2 cm in length and 2.5 mm in            diameter, held erect, 145A in color, strong, glossy and            pubescent surface.        -   Pedicels.—An average of 2 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter,            held at an average angle of 45°, 145B in color, strong,            surface is glossy and pubescent.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate in shape, an average of 2 mm in depth and            1 mm in diameter.        -   Sepals.—4, 1 whorl, rotate arrangement, fused into a            campanulate shape, 3.5 mm in length, 1.5 mm in width,            lanceolate in shape, acute apex, fused base, entire margin,            both surfaces are matte and slightly pubescent, color; when            opening and fully open upper and lower surface 145A.        -   Petals.—Average of 4, rotate, fused into salverform, 1            whorl, roughly spathulate in shape, slightly undulate            margin, rounded apex, an average of 3.5 mm in length and 2            mm in width, outer and inner surface is glabrous, velvety            and matte, color; upper and lower surface when opening and            fully open N155B, flower throat 21B, flower tube young 8C,            mature 21B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, 2 mm in length, style; an average of 2            mm in length, 145D in color, stigma; elongated, 1 mm in            length and 145B in color, ovary is 145D in color.        -   Androcoecium.—Stamens; 4, filament; 3 mm in length and 23A            in color, anther; ovate in shape, 1 mm in length, 11D in            color, pollen; low in quantity, 11D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No seeds or fruit has been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named‘Botex 003’ as herein illustrated and described.